Roberto Martinez: We Want To Win The Manchester City Match For Ourselves

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Everton manager Roberto Martinez has said that his team wants to win this weekend’s City clash for themselves, and not to help Liverpool in its quest for the title.

Local rivals Liverpool held their own destiny in their hands before they were beaten at home by Chelsea. Liverpool and Manchester City will both be level on points if they win their remaining fixtures but City have a clear cut better goal differece which means that the title would be given to the Manchester team. The Reds now will have to hope for favors from Everton, Aston Villa and West Ham, the three teams Manchester City still have to play, to get to their first League title after 24 years. Chelsea too, remain in the hunt for the title as the possibility of Liverpool and City dropping more points cannot be ruled out.

The Everton boss has claimed that the title challengers City, Liverpool and Chelsea should not look at the Toffees for help as they would be working for themselves and not to assist any potential title winner.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about the integrity of our football club towards the league and towards the competition.”, said Martinez

“We are a football team and football club who want to win every game we go into and we’re looking at ourselves (Saturday). They’re precious points for us so we can’t afford not to give everything to get every point we have left, but helping other teams is not the way we do our work.”

Everton are currently fifth, four points behind Arsenal in the race to finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League. The Gunners host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and Everton need the Baggies to beat Arsene Wenger’s side to keep alive their hopes of overtaking the London club.

Gareth Barry, who is on loan from Manchester City, would be unable to feature against his parent side because of the English Premier League’s rule. Barry spoke about his frustration not being able to play the last home match of the season because of this rule:

“It’s a fixture I looked at earlier on in the season because the last home game of the season is always a special one. You want to be out there in front of your home fans for the last time that season, especially when there is something at stake as well.”

Players on loan between two top-flight clubs are not permitted to face the team that holds their registration, which is not the case in European competition. Debate on the particular subject has come more into limelight after Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan from Chelsea, took part in the Champions League semi final clash between the two sides, and helped the Spanish team register a win. The Everton manager urged the Premier League to change rules about loannes:

“In my eyes when you reach an agreement for a player to go – whether a loan or permanent transfer – he should be allowed to play. It is a decision you make in a window and I don’t see it as a healthy way to treat a loan player in not letting him play against his parent club.”